Monasticism and Its Saving History

      The monastic life is a way in which people give all to follow God. It is oftentimes wrongly believed that monks and nuns have nothing to do with the world outside of their monasteries and convents when in reality they do much to the benefit of the outside world. In fact through the ages people living the monastic life have played a great part in saving things of the outside world from total destruction. They saved valuable culture and knowledge of times long past. Religious brothers and sisters were also responsible for the saving and protecting of many people’s lives. Most importantly, people who have given up all for Christ in choosing to live the monastic life have saved countless souls from the worst fate of all, eternal damnation. As a result monasticism, a way of giving one’s all to God, has proved to have a long history of saving things from outside of the monastery.

      

      Many people would find it hard to believe that monks living in monasteries were responsible for preserving and strengthening western culture, but that is what happened. It was the monks who copied by hand classical writings and preserved them from total loss as the old Roman Empire was wiped away by invading barbarians. “At home, the monks labored in the school and scriptorium, writing theological, hagiographical, and historical works.”[1] The Monasteries were the places of learning where scholarship and education were kept alive when much of the world fell into the hands of uncivilized uneducated peoples. Furthermore, “the monks enriched the world by developing art and architecture and by inventing the writing down of music.”[2] They turned swamps and other up till then unused areas into some of the most productive agricultural lands in the world thereby providing a great source of food for many hungry people in the years to come. With the increased learning and food supplies brought about by the monasteries great cities came to be made in the once desolate lands. In this way Monasticism kept Western culture alive and beautiful so people throughout the centuries could flourish and grow. 

      

      However, monasticism did not stop with saving Western culture, but went on to save thousands of people. Monks helped feed starving people. Monastic orders were also made to help take care of the sick. Some of these orders even evolved into elite fighting forces which would provide protection for pilgrims and eventually the whole of Europe from invading armies. Monasteries also proved to be places of sanctuary where people could turn to when they had nowhere else to go. In World War II when “word spread from the Vatican for Religious to open the doors of convents and monasteries to protect Jews” the monastic communities were only too willing to help hide the hundreds of thousands of Jews who sought for shelter against the atrocious Nazi regime.[3] Thus, monasteries proved to be connected to the world in yet another way, by saving the lives of many helpless people.

      

     

      Finally, those living the monastic life prove to be caring and connected to the rest of the world in the way that they pray for and help strengthen the spiritual welfare of people all over the world. Indeed, the most fundamental part of a religious’ day is his prayers and many of those prayers are said for the good of those people who do not even know they are being prayed for. Masses are said every day in the monastic life and severe penances are often done for the spiritual good of not only the monks themselves, but for the sake of the whole world. Reparation for sin is often a major factor in a monk’s day to day life. In addition to this monasteries and convents open their doors to the people of the world providing a holy and grace-filled place for people to take a step back from the wiles of the world and a step closer to God. Many saints have come from monastic backgrounds and it is quite clear from their holy lives that they have been a great blessing to all who have come in contact with them. Truly, monasticism provides the world with a bulwark against evil forces who seek to bring harm and devastation to God’s people. Consequently, the world owes monasticism a great deal of gratitude and people should take time to send up a few prayers for those who, following the example of Jesus, give their all to God and in so doing give themselves up for the good of the world.

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[1] GRIBOMONT, J., et al. "Monasticism." New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., vol. 9, Gale, 2003, (Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3407707650/GVRL?u=23009&sid=GVRL&xid=65c53743.) (Accessed 8/13/19)

[2] Vidmar, John OP. The Catholic Church Through the Ages: A History. (2nd Addition. Mahway NJ: Paulist Press New York, 2014), p. 87

[3] Marchione, Sr. Margherita. Pope Pius XII and the Jews, (Crisis Magazine, https://www.crisismagazine.com/1997/pope-pius-xii-and-the-jews) (Accessed 8/13/19)